How to Watch the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta: Local Fan’s Guide

If you search for “Atlanta Hawks watch” and you live in or are visiting Atlanta, you’re probably trying to figure out where and how to watch Hawks games—on TV, streaming, or at local spots that feel like home court. This guide walks through the main options that actually matter if you’re in metro Atlanta.

Main Ways to Watch Atlanta Hawks Games in Atlanta

For most fans in Atlanta, watching the Hawks usually comes down to four main options:

  1. Regional sports network (RSN) on cable or satellite
  2. Live TV streaming services that carry Hawks broadcasts
  3. National TV games (ESPN, TNT, ABC, etc.)
  4. Sports bars and watch spots around the city

Each one works a little differently, and some are better suited for people who live in Atlanta full-time, while others are great for visitors staying in hotels or short-term rentals.

Watching the Hawks on TV in Atlanta

1. Regional Sports Network: Local Hawks Broadcasts

Most regular-season Atlanta Hawks games are carried on a regional sports channel that serves the Atlanta area and surrounding markets. This channel typically offers:

  • Pre-game and post-game coverage
  • Hawks-focused commentary and analysis
  • Replays and special Hawks programming

In the Atlanta TV market, this regional channel is usually bundled with:

  • Traditional cable services
  • Some satellite providers
  • Certain live TV streaming platforms

If you live in Atlanta, your first step is usually to:

  • Check your current cable or satellite lineup to confirm which regional sports network carries Hawks games.
  • Look for the sports tier or “regional sports” category in your channel guide.

If you’re in an apartment or condo in areas like Midtown, Buckhead, Westside, or Downtown, ask your building management what providers are wired into the building. Many larger complexes partner with a specific cable or internet provider that already includes sports channels in popular packages.

2. National Broadcast Games

Some Hawks games each season air on national networks, especially higher-profile matchups or playoff games. From Atlanta, you may see Hawks games on:

  • ESPN
  • TNT
  • ABC
  • Occasionally other national sports networks

These channels are usually:

  • Included in standard cable and satellite TV packages
  • Offered on most live TV streaming services with a basic or mid-tier plan

If you’re only in town for a few days and staying in a hotel in Downtown, Buckhead, the Airport area, or Perimeter, your room TV often includes these national channels, even if it doesn’t carry the regional sports network.

Streaming the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta

If you prefer not to use traditional cable or satellite, you can often stream Hawks games while you’re physically in the Atlanta viewing region.

1. Live TV Streaming Services

Some live TV streaming platforms carry:

  • The local regional sports channel that airs most Hawks games
  • National networks like ESPN, TNT, and ABC

Plans and channel lineups change over time, but common patterns include:

  • “Sports” or premium tiers needed for regional channels
  • Base tiers usually include ESPN and sometimes TNT and ABC

From Atlanta, it’s smart to:

  • Enter your Atlanta ZIP code (for example, 30303, 30308, 30309, 30318, etc.) in the provider’s website or app to see exact local channel availability.
  • Make sure the service explicitly lists the regional sports network that carries the Hawks for your area.

➡️ Tip: Some platforms offer short free trials, which can be useful if you just want to watch games during a particular week or while visiting Atlanta.

2. Team or League Streaming Services (Local Blackouts)

Basketball fans often look at league-wide streaming services that show games out-of-market. If you are physically located in Atlanta or the broader Hawks home territory, regular-season Hawks games may be subject to local blackout rules on those services.

What that usually means in Atlanta:

  • If you are in the Hawks home market, a league streaming service may block live Hawks broadcasts, encouraging you to use the regional sports network instead.
  • If you travel outside the Hawks home market, those previously blacked-out games may become available through league streaming.

If you live in Atlanta and want to use a league streaming service, it’s important to:

  • Check how the service defines the Hawks home territory.
  • Understand that you may need both a league service (for out-of-market games) and a local TV/streaming option (for Hawks games in Atlanta).

Watching Hawks Games at Sports Bars and Public Spots

Sometimes you just want game-day energy, not just a screen. Atlanta has plenty of sports bars and restaurants that regularly show pro basketball, especially when the Hawks are in season.

While individual bar lineups change, here’s how to find reliable Hawks watch locations:

1. Sports Bars in Central Atlanta

Areas where you’re more likely to find Hawks games on:

  • Downtown & Centennial Park District – Popular with tourists and locals looking to catch a game before or after events.
  • Midtown – Dense cluster of bars and restaurants with multiple TVs and a strong game-day crowd.
  • Buckhead – Many sports-oriented spots that routinely show pro basketball.
  • West Midtown & Westside – Growing number of breweries and casual restaurants that keep multiple sports channels running.

When you call or walk in, ask:

  • “Do you get the regional sports channel that shows the Atlanta Hawks games?
  • “Will you have the Hawks game on sound tonight, or at least on a main TV?”

2. Near State Farm Arena

On game nights or even when the Hawks are on the road, areas around State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium can be especially lively. You may find:

  • Bars and restaurants that lean into the Hawks schedule
  • Places that run Hawks-focused watch events during playoffs

If you’re downtown near CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, or the Gulch area, look for spots advertising game-day specials or Hawks signage.

In-Person Experience: Going to Hawks Games at State Farm Arena

If you searched “Atlanta Hawks watch” but you’re actually open to watching in person, State Farm Arena is right in the heart of downtown Atlanta:

  • State Farm Arena
    1 State Farm Drive
    Atlanta, GA 30303

It is accessible via:

  • MARTA rail – Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station on the Blue and Green lines
  • Multiple nearby parking decks and surface lots

Buying a ticket gets you:

  • The true home-crowd atmosphere
  • The chance to pair your in-person experience with future TV or streaming viewing, since you’ll already know the players, lineups, and arena feel

Even if you mostly watch at home, catching a game in person once or twice a season helps many local fans feel more connected to what they’re seeing on screen.

Listening to Atlanta Hawks Games on Radio in Atlanta

If you’re driving around Atlanta—through I-285, I-75/85 Downtown Connector, or GA-400—and can’t sit in front of a TV, you can often listen to Hawks games on local radio.

Typical options in the Atlanta area include:

  • A flagship AM or FM sports radio station that carries live play-by-play
  • Post-game call-in shows where local fans react and discuss lineups, coaching decisions, and upcoming opponents

To find the current Hawks radio station in Atlanta:

  • Check the Hawks official site or official team materials.
  • Use your car’s “scan” feature during a game until you hear Hawks commentary.
  • Look under the sports radio section of your radio presets menu if you have one.

Listening is especially helpful if:

  • You’re commuting between areas like Decatur, Sandy Springs, Marietta, College Park, or Stone Mountain during game time.
  • You’re working late in an office and want the game on in the background without needing a TV.

Hawks Watching Options in and Around Metro Atlanta

Here is a simple overview of common ways Atlanta residents and visitors watch the Hawks:

SituationBest Hawks Watching Option in Atlanta
Live in-town with cable/satelliteUse regional sports network + national channels (ESPN, TNT, ABC).
Cord-cutter living in AtlantaLive TV streaming that includes both the regional channel & ESPN/TNT.
Staying in an Atlanta hotelUse hotel TV for national games; check if they carry the regional sports channel.
Driving or unable to watch videoLocal radio broadcast of Hawks games.
Wanting a social game-day feelSports bars in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or Westside.
Want full in-arena experienceAttend a Hawks home game at State Farm Arena.

Tips for Watching Hawks Games Smoothly in Atlanta

A few practical points that often matter specifically in Atlanta:

  • Check blackout rules first. If you rely on a league streaming service, remember that Hawks games may be blacked out when you’re physically in Atlanta.
  • Test your internet speed. Many parts of metro Atlanta have strong broadband, but if you’re in older buildings or certain outer suburbs, verify speeds before you commit to streaming-only.
  • Consider traffic and timing. If you’re planning to watch at a bar or attend in person, factor in rush-hour traffic on the Downtown Connector and I-285.
  • Ask about sound. Some bars will show the game on TV but play music; if hearing commentary matters, confirm “Will the game sound be on?”
  • Plan for playoffs. Playoff games are more often on national channels like TNT or ESPN, which can be easier to find in hotels, bars, and basic TV packages.

If You’re New to Atlanta or Just Visiting

If you’re new in town and want a quick way to become a real Hawks fan:

  1. Catch one game in person at State Farm Arena to feel the local energy.
  2. Set up a local TV or streaming option that includes:
    • The Atlanta regional sports channel, and
    • ESPN/TNT/ABC for national games.
  3. Try a watch night at a sports bar in Midtown, Buckhead, or Downtown to experience how Atlanta fans react during close games.
  4. Use radio or audio streams when you’re stuck in traffic so you don’t miss key moments.

From there, you’ll be fully set up to watch the Atlanta Hawks from anywhere in the city—whether you’re on your couch in Grant Park, at a bar in Buckhead, or stuck on I-75 listening to the fourth quarter.